Drakenstein Stud announced today that multiple G1 and Equus Award winner, Inara, will retire to stud in South Africa rather than being exported to Europe to begin her stud career there. Drakenstein Stud’s Gaynor Rupert said this was not an easy decision: “Inara is very special to us, having been born on the farm at Drakenstein and having raced in our colours for three seasons now. She is a beautifully bred filly, and combined with her racing achievements we felt we needed to give her the best chance at stud possible. As such, we thought seriously about sending her to the world’s best stallion, Galileo, based in Ireland.”

Inara was the leader of her generation (based upon prizemoney earned and G1 races won). A generation which will be remembered as one of the strongest crops of fillies in South African history, including the likes of Majmu, Smart Call, Siren’s Call, Alboran Sea, Carry on Alice and Same Jurisdiction. Inara won five G1 races and was the only horse in her illustrious year to win G1 races in all three major racing centres. She capped off this year being crowned Horse of the Year at the Cape Racing Awards and winning a Special Achievement Award at the annual national Equus Awards in Johannesburg.

By Champion Sire, Trippi, out of the European bred Shirley Heights mare, Mountains of Mist, granddam of triple G1 Canadian International winner Joshua Tree, Inara and her progeny would have been extremely popular in Europe. “It would obviously have made more financial sense to send her to stud in Europe,” Mrs Rupert said, “However, she is such a special filly to us here at Drakenstein that we are loath to send her away.”

Mrs Rupert also commented that it made the decision to keep her in South Africa easier having a stallion of the international calibre of Duke of Marmalade for her to visit in her first year.‘The Duke’ was the Champion Older Horse in Europe, and is currently Europe’s Leading 5th Crop Sire having already produced three European Classic winners. Duke of Marmalade is a powerfully built horse who will make a good mating to the refined elegance of Inara. Inara arrived at Drakenstein Stud at the end of July and is enjoying the start of her life as a broodmare. She is scheduled to visit Duke of Marmalade within the next few weeks.